Central Library Hosting Medicare Open Enrollment Information And Assistance Session On Wednesday, October 26

On Wednesday, October 26, representatives from Alabama's State Health Insurance Assistant Program (SHIP) will be at the Birmingham Public Library to assist any Medicare beneficiaries wanting to reevaluate and modify their health insurance coverage during the Medicare Open Enrollment period.

The event will take place in the Grand Reading Room, located on the first of the Central Library, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Call 1-800-AGE-LINE to reserve a consultation time slot. 

• What: Medicare Open Enrollment Information and Assistance Session
• Date and Time: Wednesday, October 26 | 10:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.
• Location: Central Library | First Floor Grand Reading Room
• Details: Please call 1-800-AGE-LINE to reserve a consultation time slot. Please bring to the consultation session the following—your Medicare Card, your Health Insurance Card, and a list of your prescription medications with dosage and quantity. 

SHIP, which is administered locally by the United Way Area Agency on Aging Jefferson County, is the primary source of free, reliable, and unbiased information about Medicare options available for Alabamians. SHIP staff members and volunteers provide one on one counseling to those interested in learning how to navigate the intricacies of Medicare plans, benefits, and enrollment timelines. SHIP is not affiliated with any private insurance company and the counseling and advice they provide is not intended to promote any particular plan or policy. 

The Medicare Open Enrollment period takes place this year from Saturday, October 15 to Wednesday, December 7. During this time, those already enrolled in Medicare can reevaluate their coverage and do the following:

• Switch from original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan 
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan to original Medicare
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another
• Enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan if they did not enroll when they were first eligible
• Drop their Medicare Part D prescription drug plan entirely
• Switch from one Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to another

Even if you are satisfied with your current Medicare coverage, you may still want to consult with the SHIP representatives to make sure that your health insurance needs are being met in the most sufficient and cost-effective way.

By Jim Murray | Librarian Ⅱ, Central Library